NBK

Trying to be the man my dog thinks I am.
GOLD SITE SUPPORTER
Mar 8, 2011
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San Diego, Ca.
Thought this might be a fun post. A before and after. This is the before -

Project - .280 Ackley Improved weighing in under 6lbs without rings/bases and scope - Primary diet will be copper bullets (Hammers)

Titanium Action - Lone Peak Razor Ti (long action - standard bolt face) 21.5 oz
Trigger - Jewell 2 lb Bench Rest - 2.7 oz
Barrel - Proof Research 24" 1-8" twist Sendero 44 oz (after thread and chamber)
Brake - MBM Titanium 4 port Beast 2.2 oz
Bottom Metal - Hawkins Obendorf BDL 2.6 oz
Wyatt's Spring, Follower and Box 2.9 oz
Action Screws - Stainless Steel 1/2 oz
Stock - Proof Research Light Weight Mountain Hunter 19 oz (this is a Bob Culbertson designed stock better known as a Summit)

Rings - Hawkins Hybrid 25 MOA 3.6 oz
Scope will likely be a Vortex Razor HD LHT 19.1 oz.

Ancilllary items to make this happen:

Manson Reamer in .280AI Nosler (SAAMI) (Nosler's version of .280AI)
Cerakote H-146 Graphite Black
Devcon 10110 puddy to skim the stock (action bedding)
Dies - Redding Master Hunters w/carbide button & VLD seating stem
Brass - Peterson
Bullets - Hammer 169 hunters


Build.jpg
 
like the fact that it has no detachable magazine and not especialiy fond of detachable floor plates as well, One of the things I feel puts a rifle at risk especially when I saw what happened to you when we were in Montana year's ago and you lost the mag out of your .338. Good thing you had an extra or that would have been a not so good day.
 
Get use to saying “He’s down”

stoked for this build. I am curious how stable it will be. I was just listening to an Exo podcast where the Steve said in his ultra lighthunting PRC Rig he holds pressuredown on the top of his scope with his off hand and that’s a huge help. Apparently that is a common tactic with this new style of ultralight long range.

Excited for an early morning desert run in the next couple months to stretch these things out. Put the deer targets out and let them eat.
 
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@Truduct @NBK i think its time for a quick attachment of a bino / other common item carried to add stability. You could mil an adapter that screws into one of the swivels with the other end able to accept an outdoorsman stud. Quick press of the button and you can add your bino weight for stability...if you are running 15's you just added nearly 3 extra pounds for stability.

@NBK I have a feeling I will be buying that same scope from you sooner rather than later.

I also have to say that is gorgeous!
 
@Truduct @NBK i think its time for a quick attachment of a bino / other common item carried to add stability. You could mil an adapter that screws into one of the swivels with the other end able to accept an outdoorsman stud. Quick press of the button and you can add your bino weight for stability...if you are running 15's you just added nearly 3 extra pounds for stability.

@NBK I have a feeling I will be buying that same scope from you sooner rather than later.

I also have to say that is gorgeous!
I would very hesitant to put any recoil onto binoculars. scopes are built for recoil. I can imagine a lot going wrong with nockers absorbing recoil. Just an opinion I have no science to back this up.

I don’t think the rifle is going to be to light at all. I am really curious to see how it shoots. It’s a really intriguing build. I am envious of the parts going into it.

I know that from all the backcountry stuff I listen to it is almost a different shooting style when you try and stretch out a real light gun. I am just talking out my butt though and have no first hand experience with an ultralight mountain rifle. One thing I do know is there will be a 280AI shoot off going down very soon and I am not planning on losing.
 
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Haha - I am not too concerned about weight influencing the accuracy. The rifle will weigh somewhere around 7.5 lbs once it has a scope on it. So while the rifle is ultra light, the complete rig is just light.

There are a few things that were thought through regarding parts. The barrel is only 24" and is a Sendero profile. This allows for a very stiff setup. If I were truly going ultra light I would have done a Sendero light or a #2 steel barrel.

And @Truduct, I accept the .280AI challenge. Anyone can hit a gong. Smallest group wins!

@Lungpopper has a lightweight 7mm as does @Kellendv so they both may want in too!
 
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All about smallest group what yardage we talking? These ain’t bench rest guns.

I need to get down there I want to get velocities on a few guns. Also want to get @Kellendv chrono as well at some point before ID. Gonna be hot as balls down there. Not having the ranges open is making load development a little difficult.
 
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why not a fluted barrel, and again what is budget please?
Lee with a carbon barrel you are able to have the advantages of a lightweight barrel with the harmonics of a heavy barrel. Accuracy is arguable between some of the top steel barrels and the carbon stuff but anymore the carbon barrels have really stepped up their game. All the cool kids are using carbon barrels right now it’s just where we are at.
 
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Lee with a carbon barrel you are able to have the advantages of a lightweight barrel with the harmonica of a heavy barrel. Accuracy is arguable between some of the top steel barrels and the carbon stuff but anymore the carbon barrels have really stepped up their game. All the cool kids are using carbon barrels right now it’s just where we are at.
very interesting , thanks for the reply, is the rifling of the barrel have any coating or plate to reduce wear, did not even know they were making carbon barrels,
carbon is know for it's light weight and strength, but not for surface hardness (hertz hardness) to resist wear. but it will be interesting to see how it works out.
 
very interesting , thanks for the reply, is the rifling of the barrel have any coating or plate to reduce wear, did not even know they were making carbon barrels,
carbon is know for it's light weight and strength, but not for surface hardness (hertz hardness) to resist wear. but it will be interesting to see how it works out.

its a very thin steel barrel wrapped by carbon for strength...for the budget just the stock, barrel, and action already ~$3000...so north of that.
 
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Since we are going to be playing the light weight game. Might as well make it a little more real to life.
I suggest a 400 yard run with 1 minute to fire 3 shots. Best group wins
 
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This gun should be a contender at the sch cup, in the ultralight one shot and done division :)
 
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